Makin’ It Personal: A #PersonalizeSC Podcast

In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Elizabeth Edwards, a resource teacher at Devon Forest Elementary School in Berkley County.  Hear how she got her personalized learning implementation journey started and how the small shifts she's making are impacting the students she serves! Connect with Elizabeth via email: edwardse@bcsdschools.net Subscribe, share, & stay connected with the...

In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Dr. John Spencer, educator and author of the books Empower , Vintage Innovation , and more. Hear his take on student-centered learning, what an empowered learner looks like, and getting buy in from parents, subtle shifts that make a big difference in giving both students and teachers more ownership in their learning journeys! Connect with Dr. Spenser a...

Ever wonder what makes personalized learning different from differentiation? Or if it's possible to personalize learning for students with a strict district curriculum? Get your questions answered and more in this episode as host Keri Fersner chats with fellow Office of Personalized Learning Coaches Kristen Logan and Dr. Sarah Bowie on a few myths and truths surrounding the work of Personalized Co...

Ever wonder what flexibilities exist for SC schools and districts who are interested in innovative approaches to student-centered learning? In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Stephanie DiStasio, Director of the SCDE Office of Personalized Learning and Dr. Sarah Longshore, Director of the SCDE Office of Accountability about the recently released SC Education Flexibility Guide. Hear more...

Need an inspiring example of a SC school who is making strides and reimagining the learning experience for students? In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with the North Charleston High School of Innovation staff about how they are leveraging state waived requirements, including seat time to allow for more flexibility and creativity in their approaches to meet the needs of the students the...

In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Jennifer Shea, a Kindergarten teacher at Westview Primary School about how she personalizes learning for her students. Learn more about how Jennifer began her journey towards personalizing learning and how she tends to the culture and the learning environment in a way that empowers the "little humans" she serves! Subscribe, share, & plug into the S...

Is personalized learning only for certain populations? How can we leverage student strengths to help them take ownership and continue engaging in their learning? Find the answers to these questions and more as host Keri Fersner chats with Curriculum and Instruction Coaches Britani Magargle and Jim Cooke of Lexington County School District 1 about the connections between SPED and personalized learn...

Welcome to the NEW YEAR! Join host Keri Fersner as she chats with coach Margaret Ellis and teacher Kim Lawson about their journeys in personalizing student learning and sustaining this work. In this episode, hear them speak to the power of vertical conversations regarding critical standards, building the capacity of teacher leaders, connecting the dots between resources and initiatives with person...

Want to start using the PSCG Competencies in your context, but don't know how to start? Join host Keri Fersner as she chats with Sydney Schaef, Managing Director of reDesign about the newly created tool, First Steps: A Teacher's Guide to Competency Implementation . In this episode, learn more about the benefits of engaging with this interactive tool and get a practical look at how you can leverage...

In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with College Park Elementary educators Keri Martin and Lyndsie Baker about their own personalized learning journeys and the benefits student centered learning has had on students they serve. Connect with Keri ( martinkeri@bcsdschools.net ) and Lyndsie ( bakerlyndsie@bcsdschools.net ) via email! Learn more about the PSCG Competency Implementation Guide here...

If you haven't heard, there a NEW SC Framework for Personalized Competency-Based Learning in town! Sooo.... What's the difference between the original Framework for Personalized Learning (1.0) and the new Framework for PCBL? How did the shift come about? How does personalized learning and competency-based learning intersect? What supports exist to help educators along their journey towards creatin...

In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with SCDE Office of Personalized Learning Coaches Kristen Logan and Heather Bross regarding tips and best practices for leading the work of personalized, competency based learning at the start of this brand new school year. Hear more about the importance of intentionality, transparency, and being learner focused when it comes to vision setting and professio...

In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with River Bluff High School teacher Apryl Henry and Instructional Coach Britt Collins about their individual and collective journey towards infusing the PSCG Competencies into classroom practices. Get inspired by Apryl's approach to getting students to self-assess and demonstrate evidence of learning through competency rubrics and her methods for scaling a...

There are so many awesome and authentic ways to get started with the PSCG Competencies! In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Becky Funderburk, Instructional Coach at Saluda Trail STEAM Middle School in Rock Hill, SC about their school's journey towards infusing the PSCG Competencies into their work with students through the use of Learner Profiles. Hear more about 6th grade's focus on ski...

One competency, one skill, one month...what's the best that can happen? In this episode, host Keri Fersner sits down with Dr. Era Roberts, Assistant Principal for Instruction at Batesburg-Leesville High School in Lexington 3 and chats about how she introduced her teachers to the PSCG Competencies through the use of one-point rubrics. Learn more about her passion for student centered learning and h...

How can you actually begin using the PSCG Competencies? What are the possibilities? In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with River Bluff High math teachers Andrea Moore and Jennifer Gibbons on their honest first impressions of the PSCG Competencies and how they've started using this resource with students in their contexts! Tune in to hear more about their journey and tips for using the Compe...

What's a competency? Are they really relevant for the current times in SC education? Wait...South Carolina actually has competencies? Join host Keri Fersner in a candid conversation with fellow OPL Coach Kristen Logan and Sydney Schaef, Managing Director of reDesign on the Profile of the SC Graduate Competencies. In this episode, learn more about the SC Competencies, how they were created, entry l...

In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Britteny Drakeford, 8th grade ELA teacher at Saluda Trail Middle School in Rock Hill, SC. Hear about how she infuses student centered learning in her classroom and guides her students towards becoming self-regulated learners through the use of Workshop Model, goal setting, conferencing, eNotebooks and more! Connect with Britteny on Twitter (@Ms_Bldrake...

Happy New Year to you! Let's jump into this new year with HOPE in focus! Join host Keri Fersner as she chats with Robin Kanaan & Brenda Neel of KnowledgeWorks regarding the cultivation of hope within ourselves, our classrooms, and our culture of education. Start your year off with this inspiring episode! Connect with our guests via email: KanaanR@knowledgeworks.org & bneel1951@hotmail.com...

In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with teacher Suzanne Rogers from Oconee Academy, an alternative education program in Walhalla, SC. Hear about her student centered learning journey, the importance of educator community, and how she keeps the joys of teaching alive at a time like this! Connect with our guest below via email: srogers@sdoc.org  Check out the student journal page & he...

Ever ask yourself, " What does personalized learning actually look like in practice? " In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Anna, Megan, Macey, Kayla, and Jill, teachers from Riverside Elementary in Horry County, SC. Hear their take on building classroom culture, learning pathways, goal setting, mastery learning, and other student centered practices happening in their 2nd - 5th grade clas...

In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with Katie Allsbrook, high school math teacher and Blythewood High School’s 2020 Teacher of the Year about her journey towards personalizing learning with her students! (Recording was done in May 2020) Connect with Katie @ kallsbrook@richland2.org Join the PersonalizeSC Community: https://tinyurl.com/JoinPersonalizeSC Need some personalized PD? Check out ou...

In this episode, host Keri Fersner chats with April Murphy of Cane Bay Elementary about her journey towards making learning personal for students through the use of transparency, learning pathways, and real world experiences for students! Connect with April via email: murphya@bcsdschools.net Check out April's Learning Pathway example here ! Want to connect with other educators on the path towards...

In this episode, host Keri Fersner talks with Quencenia Dantzler,  Director of Virtual School Education for Orangeburg County School District to get some tips on how educators can navigate this year's back to school climate, from a virtual or hybrid perspective!  Connect with Quen via email: quencenia.dantzler@ocsdsc.org   Want to connect with other educators on the path towards per...

This episode may be a little longer than usual, but we promise, IT'S WORTH IT ! Tune in as host Keri Fersner chats with author and educational leader, Elena Aguilar to discuss her views on educational equity, accessing courage to continue moving forward in student centered practices, and how to truly transform the educational system for ALL kids! Connect with Elena at https://brightmorningteam.com...